This elaborate and finely carved basket comes from the island of Lombok, which lies to the east of Bali. The Sasak people are closely related to the Balinese but largely converted to Islam in the late 16th and early 17th century. Until recently though, Sasak beliefs and religious practices continued to show elements of Animism, Hinduism and Buddhism. The dragon carvings shows show some affinity to Chinese influences filtered through a Lombok lens. The small human figure, seated between the dragons is typical of Lombok carving, posed as they often are in anatomically near-impossible and terribly uncomfortable positions.
